1. LIGHTWEIGHT MEAL PLANNING In the Backcountry
Herb Haake
University of Scouting March, 2011

2. Lightweight Meal Planning DISCUSSION POINTS
Cooking Groups / Cooking and Associated Equipment
Menu Planning
Stoves and Water Treatment
Leave No Trace
Food Protection
Summary

3. Lightweight Meal Planning Cooking Groups
Troop (>10)
Form independent patrol-sized groups
Patrol (4 - 8)
Buddy (2 – 4)
Lightweight / backpacking stoves

4. Lightweight Meal Planning
Use foods and menus which have:
Short cooking times (5 to 10 minutes max)
Little water content (dehydrated or freeze-dried)
Minimal number of cans
High ‘concentration’ of protein & calorie content
No refrigeration requirements

5. Lightweight Meal Planning MINIMIZE WATER CONTENT
Use Dried or dehydrated vegetables
Use instant dried “fillers” like
Stove top stuffing, Minute rice, Couscous
Powdered mashed potatoes or hash browns
Pasta (but avoid pasta with long cooking time)
Avoid raw meats
Limit number of cans
Use only small-sized tins (ie- chicken, tuna, or sardine)

6. Lightweight Meal Planning MEAL PLANS - OVERVIEW
Choose compact and compressible foods, high in calories
Rice, tortillas, jerky, pasta, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, candy and nutritional bars
Leave strongly-scented items behind
Plan out your menu
Each meal, snack, drink and condiment 
Pre-measure and pre-mix your food

7. Lightweight Meal Planning MEAL PLANS
Breakfast - Use hot water approach
Instant oatmeal flavored w/ nuts, raisins, craisins
Hot drinks like coffee/ cocoa/ tea/ Tang
Lunch - Keep it simple
GORP mix high in nuts and dried fruits
Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, raisins, craisins, cheerios, figs, dates
Tortillas, crackers, peanut butter
Nutrition bars, candies

8. Lightweight Meal Planning MEAL PLANS
Supper -- water-based with simple cleanup
One-pot dishes (plan on 5 oz per serving)
Start with ‘instant dried filler’
Stove top stuffing, Minute rice, couscous
Pasta, lentils
Instant mashed potatoes / hash browns
Add ‘concentrated’ protein and dried vegetables
Beef stick, beef jerky, pepperoni, chicken, tuna, salmon, shrimp
String beans or broccoli
Add spices to taste, use cooking oil as needed
Lentils

9. Lightweight Meal Planning “STEALTH” CAMPING
Objective
Keep cooking area / odors SEPARATE from tent site
Camp away from others
Methods
Cook main meal in early afternoon, or before reaching your final destination
Finish your evening meal well before sunset
Select camping site away from water sources

10. Lightweight Meal Planning STOVE CONSIDERATIONS
Use lightweight stoves for cooking
Use wind protection around stove
Limit number of people per stove
Keep meals simple
Reduces fuel consumption
Turn off stove as soon as water is hot
Consider “no cook” breakfasts / lunches
Check airline regulations for stoves / fuel when flying

11. Lightweight Meal Planning WATER CONSIDERATIONS
Purification only needed for your drinking water
Boiled water does not require separate treatment
Obtain drinking water from clean sources at highest elevation possible
Chemical treatment (Iodide and Ascorbic Acid clarifier) is usually most convenient for small groups
If filtering, let water impurities first settle in a pot

12. Lightweight Meal Planning LEAVE NO TRACE CONSIDERATIONS
Plan ahead
Repackage food to minimize rubbish
Avoid use of foil for packaging
Camp on durable surfaces
Find rocky site for cooking
Dispose of waste properly
Human waste at least 200 ft from campsite
Carry out what you carry in

13. Lightweight Meal Planning LEAVE NO TRACE CONSIDERATIONS (con’t)
Leave what you find
Minimize campfire impacts
Use lightweight stove for cooking
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors

14. Lightweight Meal Planning Food Protection
Animal habituation
Avoid easy access to food
Methods
Bear bags
Hung from trees or cables
Bear canisters

15. Lightweight Meal Planning BEAR CANISTERS
Easier / more effective than hanging bear bags, and now required in many backcountry areas
One canister can hold up to 7-10 days of food for one person, or 5 days worth of food for two people
Use plastic bags for repackaging to allow max fit
Store canister on the ground, 100’ away from tent
Avoid placing canister near heat, plastic can melt
Store ALL scented items inside the canister
Includes food, toiletries and garbage
Therefore, avoid taking scented foods like fresh fruits, raw meats, and items like cosmetics

16. Lightweight Meal Planning SUMMARY
Minimize water content in the foods you carry
Use dehydrated or freezed-dried foods
Use compact, compressible, high calorie foods
Rice, tortillas, jerky, pasta, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, candy and nutritional bars
Plan quick cooking, one-pot suppers
Instant dried filler mixed with protein
Use bear canisters in the backcountry
Plan carefully and repackage everything
All scented items go inside canisters,